The most creative minds tackling the marriage conundrum. The Impact Awards are presented to those whose research, books, political or grassroots action, leadership and brilliant reconceptualizationshave given us new hope about reversing the epidemic of divorce and family breakdown.

FireproofFor inspiring couples around the world to Fireproof their own marriages; for inspiring churches to build marriage ministries that will leave no couple, family, or child behind; and, for teaching the Marriage Movement a powerful new truth, that if you film it – and film it brilliantly - they will come.

Barry McCarthyFor a lifetime of work that has empowered couples to develop their own Sexual Styles and to create, maintain, and celebrate Marital Sex As It Ought To Be.

Syble Solomon For Money Habitudes a simple little deck of cards that cracks the code and proves that if a couple can learn how to talk about money – with insight, understanding, and love - they can talk about, and do, anything

John Van Epp, PhDFor your pioneering work in reaching our most important target – the next marrying generation – and for your RAM model and the programs that help us teach them how to Pick a Partner, Avoid Jerks, and stay LINKED, arm-in-arm, oar-to-oar, into the future.

Dennis Stoica, MBAFor your creative and generous genius and your inspiring and visionary leadership that has blazed the path and set the standard for all of us to follow in our quest to establish a strong and stable marriage culture – and, yes, to change the world.

Gary Chapman, PhDFor giving all couples everywhere, and those of us that help them, the wonderful power – and peace – of being able to understand and speak each other’s Love Languages.

Harville Hendrix, PhD and Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhDFor IMAGO – the model that gives us the miracle of finding who we are meant to be – reflected through the mirror of our lover’s soul. And for your dedicated, generous, creative, pioneering work in making the process and tools ever more accessible to all couples, everywhere.

Beyond Affairs Network (BAN)To the program that protects the flame of marriage through the darkest, coldest, most storm-ravaged nights –and through the wisdom and generosity of those that have been there and made it back – provides the shelter, comfort, and support that allows couples not only to heal, but to grow even stronger in the broken places.

Willard Harley, Jr, PhD - For your pioneering body of work that very early on established that His Needs and Her Needs are, indeed, different. And for creating the Marriage Builders model with its key and crucial concept of Enthusiastic Joint Agreement to help us help couples “be in love and be great together!”

Kay Hymowitz - for Marriage and Caste In America which sounds the alarm and lays out the realities of the growing Marriage Gap with such compelling clarity that we can never again say we didn't know.

Nisa Muhammad - For your genius and vision in founding Black Marriage Day and for your passion, inspirational leadership, bravery, and determination that has, in a few short years, turned it into a national institution that has forever changed marriage in America.

Kay Reed - For your tenacious conviction that “We Have to Start with the Kids” and for your creative, joyful, and inspirational leadership in establishing and advancing the School/Youth Marriage Education Movement.

2006 Smart Marriages® Impact Awards: Presented at the 10th Annual Smart Marriages Conference Atlanta, Georgia June 22 - 25, 2006 Truett Cathy: For your leadership, vision and determination to strengthen marriage in American. For the creation and funding of the national Marriage CoMission and the Winshape Marriage Retreat Center and for the marriage- and family-friendly policies you've put in place at Chick-fil-A -- forging a path and leading the way for all the rest to follow.

Bill Coffin, MEd: To the United States of America’s first ever Special Assistant for Marriage Education for your far-reaching contributions that will affect many generations to come. And for making David Mace, Pat, and all the rest of us so proud. Diane Sollee, MSW: We honor and appreciate you as the pre-eminent creator of the Marriage Education Movement, who popularized marriage education by bringing together academic, religious, community and therapeutic leaders at your Smart Marriages Conferences to make marriage a priority. 2005 Smart Marriages® Impact Awards: Presented at the 9th Annual Smart Marriages Conference Dallas, Texas June 23 - 26, 2005

George Doub, MDiv: For the Family Wellness Program which so effectively teaches couples and children -- of all classes and cultures -- the skills to create safe, stable, loving and healthy families. ***************************Retrouvaille: The program that never gives up -- that proves, time and again, that there is no such thing as a hopeless case. The program built on the foundation that there is nothing anywhere as strong as couple power -- as couples helping couples. And, the program that carries the torch for marriage and, in so doing, serves as a beacon of hope to us all. *************************** Pat Ennis, MSW: For The Third Option, an exemplary and extraordinary marriage education program that sets the standard for all to follow. *************************** David and Claudia Arp: For 10 Great Dates - the program that opens the door into the hearts of couples -- so that all the rest can follow. 2004 Smart Marriages® Impact Awards: Presented at the 8th Annual Smart Marriages Conference Dallas, Texas July 8 - 11, 2004

Pat Love, EdD: For your great body of work dedicated to helping us understand - and stand in awe of - the delicate, mysterious and crucial links between chemistry and passion, love and commitment - for Hot Monogamy and The Truth About Love. ***************************Steven Stosny, PhD: For your radical and revolutionary new approach to understanding the mystery of abuse. For teaching us how to reach into the heart of the abuser with Compassion, dust off core value, and create lasting change for abusers - and those they love. *************************** Julie Baumgardner, MS, CFLE: For your leadership, generosity and genius in teaching us how to put First Things First - and best of all, for making it look easy. *************************** David Olson, PhD: For your great body of work as a pioneer, researcher, theorist, author, teacher, mentor and visionary in improving our understanding of how to PREPARE for, ENRICH - and master - marriage. ********************** Diann Dawson, JD, MSW: For your inspired leadership in creating and directing the African American Healthy Marriage Initiative. For your vision, determination - and your vow. *********************************** Senator Steve Dille, Minnesota: In appreciation of your extraordinary legislative leadership in strengthening marriages - for your vision, mastery and commitment - and for blazing a trail for all the rest to follow. ***********************************Stan Weed, PhD: For your research on the success of Community Marriage Policies. They said it couldn’t be done but you went ahead and did it - and, in so doing, moved the Marriage Movement a giant leap forward. 2003 Smart Marriages® Impact Awards: Presented at the 7th Annual Smart Marriages Conference Reno, Nevada June 26-29, 2003

Frank Pittman, MD: To our leader, our compass, our chief, in gratitude for helping us understand what men and marriage are for - just how much each needs the other - and, just how much we need them both. For Turning Points, Private Lies, Man Enough, and Grow Up!

***********************************Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, PhD: She who maps the territory, sets the course. Because there’s no way to know where you’re going, if you don’t know where you’re at; our enormous gratitude for your work in charting “The State of Our Unions” and for leading the charge with The Divorce Culture. **********************David Popenoe, PhD: He who maps the territory, sets the course. Because there’s no way to know where you’re going, if you don’t know where you’re at, our enormous gratitude for your work in charting “The State of Our Unions” and for leading the charge with Life Without Father and Promises to Keep.

**********************Michele Weiner-Davis, MSW: For saying what no one else dares say - out front and first - in a way that suddenly everyone agrees with. For naming our truths, defining the next stage of the battle, and for showing us all how - and why - and the sheer joy of being - Divorce Busters.

**********************Bill Doherty, PhD: For your leadership in saying what needs to be said in a way that it can be heard - and acted upon. For stamping out neutrality when it comes to the “M-word”. For getting us fired up with BHAGs and then showing us how to anchor them solidly in communities so that they’ll outlive and outlast us and make us all proud.

John Gottman, PhD, author of Why Marriages Succeed or Fail; The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work; The Marriage Clinic; The Relationship Cure, for a lifetime of research that has cracked the code and forever changed the way we understand and approach marriage. For moving marriage from the realm of mystery to mastery. *************************** Wade Horn, PhD, assistant secretary for Children and Families, Administration for Children and Families, HHS, for visionary leadership in helping show the world that Marriage Matters. *********************************** Bernard Guerney, Jr, PhD, for a lifetime of research, for creating the Relationship Enhancement Program and for visionary leadership in blazing a path for so many to follow. ********************** Lori Gordon, PhD, for her pioneering work in creating the PAIRS Program and for visionary leadership in blazing a path for so many to follow. ********************* Sherod Miller, PhD, for pioneering work in creating the Couple Communication Program and for visionary leadership in blazing a path for so many to follow.

Judith Wallerstein, PhD, author of the best selling Unexpected Legacy of Divorce, for a lifetime of intrepid research that has changed the way the world understands the lasting effects of divorce on children. Our eyes were blind, but now can see.

Linda Waite, PhD, author with Maggie Gallagher of The Case for Marriage, for her body of work which identifies the benefits of marriage to men, women and children. For giving us the "why" to go with our "how".

Paul Amato, PhD, author with Alan Booth of Generation At Risk, whose research has changed the way we understand the effects of marital conflict on children and who has shored up the concepts of the "unnecessary divorce" and the "good enough marriage."

John Gray, PhD, whose Mars and Venus changed the way men and women view love, relationships and marriage by normalizing the differences experienced in all marriages and opening couples to the possibility that they can master the challenges. Touched a nerve and a need and has sold 20 million MarsVenus books.

Howard Markman, PhD and Scott Stanley, PhD whose million dollar National Institute of Mental Health project demonstrates "transportability" - that marriage skills can be taught cost-effectively by trained lay educators to couples of all classes, races and cultures and at any stage of relationship in a variety of settings.

Jerry Regier, Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services, whose leadership in developing and implementing the first state-wide, multi-sectored Initiative for Marriage has blazed a trail for the rest to follow.

Mike and Harriet McManus, whose Community Marriage Policies, Marriage Savers Congregations and Mentor Couple Programs have shown the way to strengthen marriages - couple by couple, congregation by congregation and community by community.